Alabama's bulldozer of a tailback with the super-sized workload won the 81st Heisman Trophy on Saturday night, capping a junior campaign in which he rushed for an SEC-record 1,986 yards -- previously held by 1982 Heisman winner Herschel Walker -- on 339 carries and scored a conference-record-tying 23 touchdowns.

"I'm just so thankful to have this trophy," Henry said. "It's just a blessing and an honor."

Sure, the Heisman ceremony just ended. But it's not too early to look ahead to what could be a terrific field of 2016 candidates. And yes, it could be another monster year for running backs.

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Henry finished with 1,832 points in the voting, followed by Stanford running back Christian McCaffrey (1,539), making it four second-place finishes for Cardinal players in seven seasons. Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson (1,165) finished third. Henry won five of six voting regions, with McCaffrey winning the Far West.

Henry was considered the favorite going in, though it didn't make it any easier for him.

"I didn't know at all," he said. "Them two guys were great contenders for the trophy. Deshaun, with how consistent and efficient he is at the quarterback position, all the success he had, I was kind of worried. Christian, breaking Barry Sanders' record, doing all the things he does, he's just unbelievable."

The moment right before the winner was announced was the toughest for Henry.

"My heart was about to bust out my chest. I thought I was going to have a heart attack," he said.

Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield, who some thought should have been among the finalists sent to New York, finished fourth with 334 points. Navy quarterback Keenan Reynolds finished fifth with 180 points, the highest service academy finisher since Roger Staubach won it in 1963.

Henry is the first running back to claim the Heisman since 2009, when Crimson Tide running back Mark Ingram became the first Alabama player to win the award. In 2009, Ingram edged runner-up Toby Gerhart -- a Stanford running back -- by a single percentage point, the narrowest margin of victory in the history of the award. The Heisman went to quarterbacks in the five years that followed.

A most productive season

Derrick Henry was the most productive FBS back this year, not only leading the nation in carries, yards and TDs but also setting several SEC records along the way.

On Thursday night, Henry also beat McCaffrey for the Doak Walker Award as the country's top running back, and became the first running back since 2002 to win the Maxwell Award, which is given to college football's player of the year. He is the first running back to win the Maxwell Award and Heisman Trophy since Ron Dayne in 1999.

He choked up during his speech, thanking his family and coaches, and was effusive in his praise of his teammates.

"Coming into Alabama from Florida, they all accepted me, they all loved me and all supported me," he said. "And this season, they've seen me as a leader, taken me as a leader. [The offensive line] takes pride in controlling the line of scrimmage, making sure I have success, and through this year, looking at these guys, the courage they had in me, the faith they had in me, I knew I couldn't let them down.

"Everybody always asks me about carries, what I thought about it, how I felt, but when you got teammates like that who love you and care for you, it don't matter how you feel or how bad it hurts, you've got to make sure you're making those guys happy by helping them win, getting a victory."

Derrick Henry was the runaway winner of the 81st Heisman Memorial Trophy Award and the first running back to claim the Heisman since 2009. Kelly Kline/Getty Images

Henry led the country in carries, rushing yards, rushing touchdowns and yards after contact. The 6-foot-3, 242-pound junior was second among Power 5 backs in carries of 25 yards or more.

He's a key cog in the Crimson Tide's offense, representing more than 36 percent of its total yards and 42 percent of its total touchdowns this season.

Henry was born to teenage parents and raised with the strong influence of his grandmother, Gladys, in the small north Florida town of Yulee, which is just outside of Jacksonville, but very much country living.

Gladys Henry has been hospitalized for weeks in Florida with heart and respiratory problems. Derrick Henry said his grandmother was with him in spirit as his childhood dream of winning the Heisman came true.

"I love you so much," he said.

Henry came to Alabama as a five-star recruit. Before the Heisman came a dose of humility. For the first time football wasn't easy. Being bigger, stronger and faster wasn't enough in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

"One day I said something to him and he said, 'Coach, all this stuff is new to me. All they did in high school was turn around and toss me the ball and I ran with it,'" Saban said. "I really appreciate his hard work at becoming a complete player."

Breaking through

Derrick Henry became the first Power 5 player to win the Heisman after leading the FBS in carries, rushing yards and rushing touchdowns. Each of the previous three finalists since 1982 (the first year multiple players were invited to attend the ceremony) to lead in all three categories came up just short in the Heisman race.

Led FBS in rush attempts, yards, TDs
Power 5 players since 1982

Year

Player

Heisman?

2015

Derrick Henry

1st

2009

Toby Gerhart

2nd

1989

Anthony Thompson

2nd

1984

Keith Byars

2nd

-- ESPN Stats & Information

He was a backup on a crowded depth chart as a freshman and thought about transferring, but with the encouragement of his family decided to stay put.

As a sophomore he shared carries with T.J. Yeldon and ran for 990 yards and 11 touchdowns, showing signs of big things to come.

This season, with Alabama breaking in a first-time starting quarterback and inexperienced receivers, Saban and the Tide decided to hook the offense to Henry and let him lead the way.

The Tide hammered away with Henry and he set a school record for carries with 339, including an astounding 90 in Alabama's last two games against Auburn and Florida. He had four 200-yard games in the second half of the season. He went for 210 against LSU to move to the front of the Heisman race, and had 271 yards in the Iron Bowl against Auburn.

Weary defenses got plenty of looks at big No. 5 from behind, his long bundled locks sticking out of the back of his helmet.

After Ingram won the Heisman in '09, he helped Alabama win the national championship about a month later. Henry will try to do the same. He will power No. 2 Alabama into the College Football Playoff semifinals against No. 3 Michigan State. They meet Dec. 31 in a College Football Playoff semifinal at the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic in Arlington, Texas, as the Tide seek a fourth national championship in nine seasons under Saban.

Henry has not announced his intentions yet, but a jump to the NFL seems likely after this season.